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Sa pagtindi ng kahirapan, patindihin ang paglaban

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Ni Nuel M. Bacarra

Sa panahon ng batas militar noong kalagitnaan ng dekada sitenta, umabot ng ₱8.00 ang isang salóp ng bigas sa Mindoro. Katumbas ang isang salóp ng 2¼ kilo o halos ₱3.55 bawat kilo. Noong umabot na sa ganito ang presyo ng bigas, may pagkakataon na may kisa o halong mais na ang kanin sa hapag. Hindi pa uso ang pangyayaring El Niño noon subalit ganito na ang larawan ng kahirapan noon sa probinsya.

Sa ngayon, ang bigas ay naglalaro na sa halos ₱55 – ₱60 kada kilo para sa regular milled at well-milled na bigas. Ang implasyon sa bigas ay umaabot sa 23.7% na pinakamataas sa loob ng 15 taon. Kasabay pa ito ng halos kada linggo na pagtaas ng presyo ng langis na nagiging sanhi naman ng pagtaas ng presyo rin ng iba pang pangunahing bilihin.

Todo-higpit na ang sinturon ng karaniwang pamilya dahil lalong tumitindi ang kahirapan. Hanggang saan ang sukdulan ng pagtaas ng presyo ng bigas? Sa mahigit limang dekadang singkad, may ibayong pagtindi ang anyo ng kahirapan sa bansa sa bawat dekada, sa bawat taon. Marami na ang hindi nag-aalmusal sa ngalan ng pagtitipid. Sa ganitong kalagayan, tila ang kulang na lamang ay ang pamiliin ng gobyerno ang taumbayan kung nais nilang kumain ng dalawang beses isang araw o minsanan na lamang.

Hagupit ng kalikasan at kainutilan

Noong nakaraang buwan mayroong magsasakang nagpakamatay na sa isla ng Mindoro dahil natuyo na lamang ang kanyang pananim dahil sa sobrang init na dulot ng El Niño at walang napakinabangan dito. Sa unang pagtaya ng Department of Science and Technology, 48 na mga prubinsya ang maapektuhan ng malalang tagtuyot at 24 naman ang makararanas ng dry spell. Tagtuyot kung dumaranas ang isang lugar ng limang sunud-sunod na buwan ng matinding init bunga ng kawalan o mas mababang porsyento ng ulan habang maikakatergorya ang isang lugar na nasa ilalim ng dry spell kung nakakaranas ng tatlong magkakasunod na buwan na ‘di umuulan.

Ang El Niño ay ang pag-init ng ibabaw ng karagatan na mataas kaysa karaniwan na temperatura sa gitna at silangang bahagi ng Pasipiko. Epekto na ito ng pagsalaula sa kalikasan ng mga tao sa kumpas ng malalaking korporasyon sa buong mundo na walang humpay na gumagamit ng fossil fuel na nagpapataas sa temperatura ng karagatan dahil sa carbon dioxide. Ang malalaking tipak ng yelo sa tuktok a talampakan ng mundo ay natutunaw na nagpapataas naman ng lebel ng tubig na nagdudulot naman ng pagbaha at pagkawala ng mga natural na tirahan ng mga hayop at halaman na nabubuhay sa tubig.

Ang El Niño at La Niña (kabaligtaran naman ng una, na mas madalas ang insidente ng pagbaha dahil sa mga bagyo at habagat) ay siklo na pamalagian nating dinaranas dahil sa pagbabago ng temparatura ng karagatan. Ayon sa mga eksperto, nagaganap ang siklo tuwing 2 – 9 na taon at tumatagal ng siyam hanggang 12 buwan. Sa anunsyo ng Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration o PAGASA noong huling kwarto ng 2023, mararamdaman ang epekto ng El Niño sa bansa sa unang kwarto ng 2024 hanggang Abril. Subalit sa pabatid nitong huling linggo ng Marso, maaaring tumagal ang El Niño hanggang Agosto kung saan ilang prubinsya pa ang makararanas ng tagtuyot at dudugtong naman ang La Niña na kailangang paghandaan ng bansa. Nitong unang linggo namanng Abril, tanging ang Batanes at Saranggani na lamang ang deklaradong mga prubinsyang hindi tinamaaan ng El Niño sa buong bansa.

Pero sa halip na paghandaan ito nang lubos ng pamahalaan sa pamamagitan ng mas masusing syentipikong pag-aaral sa mga epekto nito at kahandaan na alalayan ang mamamayan sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng ayuda sa mga apektadong sektor laluna sa mga magsasaka, mas minabuti nitong pairalin ang korupsyon at kalingain ang mga rice trader kaysa sa mga magsasaka at iba pang sektor na ibayong nagpasiklab sa damdamin ng mga mamamayang direktang apektado ng sakuna.

Ang mga kahingian ng sektor-magsasaka sa panahon ng El Nino. (Larawan ni N. Bacarra/Kodao)

Singil sa Anomalya

Sa ganitong dinaranas na sakuna, litaw ang tagibang na prayoridad ng gobyernong Bongbong Marcos Jr. Mas tiniyak ang katiwalian at ang pagbibigay ng pabor sa mga negosyante kaysa pagsilbihan ang maralitang mamamayan at higit na mga nangangailangan.

Pumutok ang isyu ng pagbebenta ng National Food Authority (NFA) ng mga lumang imbak na bigas kamakailan. Ibinenta ng mga opisyal ng ahensya ang 75,000 sako ng bigas sa halagang ₱25/kilo sa rice traders sa panahong ang tinging presyo ng bawat kilo ng bigas ay nasa ₱70 /kilo ayon sa imbestigasyon ng mababang kupulungan ng Kongreso. O di kaya naman kaya ay inilagak ang mga istak na bigas sa ipinagmamalaking tindahan ng Kadiwa para mapakinabangan ng maralitang mamamayan.

Hindi na ito bago sa NFA. Noong 2021, nagbenta rin ang ahensya ng 5.6 milyong sako ng bigas at apat na milyong sako noong 2022 sa rice traders. Ang kaibahan sa kasalukuyan, nasa yugto ang bansa ng pananalasa ng El Niño na disin sana’y maaaring gawing pang-ayuda sa mga biktima na dumaranas ng gutom at sa mga magsasakang matinding tinatamaan nito. Malaking tulong sa mamamayang nagugutom at kung ipinamahagi ito sa presyo na katumbas ng pagbebenta sa mga rice trader.

Hindi kayang tabunan ng diumanong mahigit isang bilyong pisong halaga ng suporta mula sa Department of Agriculture (DA) sa mga magsasaka ang katiwalian sa NFA. Sa pagkakataong ito na sinasalanta ng hagupit ng El Niño ang kabuhayan ng pinakamalaking bahagdan ng populasyon, hindi katanggap-tanggap ang kalagayan na habang nagdurusa ang mamamayan, kumikita sa katiwalian ang mga ahensya ng gobyerno at sa prayoridad na ibinibigay sa mga kasabwat sa mga maanomalyang gawain.

Nitong Abril 3, kinalampag ng mga magsasaka at mga tagasuporta nila ang tarangkahan ng pambansang tanggapan ng NFA sa Quezon City para singilin ang matataas na upisyal ng ahensya at papanagutin ang mga ito. Bukod pa rito ay humihingi ang mga magsasaka ng kumpensasyon sa pagkalugi nila dahil sa kapabayaan ng gubyerno para paghandaan ang sakuna.

“Nasaan na ang imbestigasyon na ginagawa ng Department of Agriculture at ng Kongreso na hanggang ngayon ay wala pa ring napapanagot. Hindi sapat na i-suspend ng anim na buwan ang mga namuno doon sa pagbebenta ng 75,000 bags na bigas. Yung mga ginawa din nila na pagpa-padlock sa 79 na warehouses ay hindi rin makatarungan bagkus yung mga mahigit 100,000 bags pa ng bigas sa mga warehouse na ‘yan ay kagyat nang ipamahagi sa mga biktima ng mga kalamidad kung hindi man ay direktang ibenta ito diretso sa mamamayang Pilipino na naghahanap ng mababang presyo ng bigas,” pahayag ni Cathy Estavillo, tagapagsalita ng Bantay Bigas Network noong Abril 3 sa harap ng tanggapan ng NFA.

Ang kahirapan ng mga magsasaka ay sinisingil nila dahil sa pagiging kontra-magsasaka at kontra-mamamayan at inutil na gobyerno tulad ng pahayag naman ni Danilo Ramos, tagapangulo ng Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas.

“Ang mga patubig, walang tubig! Kaya po mayroong dating umaani nang otsenta, ngayon ay siyam na kaban. At katulad po ng inyong lingkod, marami sa ibang lalawigan, hindi nag-ani. Wala na ngang lupa, gutóm!” ani Ka Daning.

“[D]apat po nating makita kung bakit may krisis sa pagkain, El Niño at kalamidad ay dahil mismo sa gubyernong inutil, kontra-magsasaka, kontra-mamamayan. Ang sabi ng mga magsasaka, aanhin pa ang damo kung patay na ang kabayo? Matagal na po naming hiling ang ₱15,000.00 na tulong-ayuda pero hanggang ngayon ay wala! Pero pag sa byahe, pag sa ChaCha (charter change) meron! Kaya mula ngayon hanggang sa hinaharap, palakasin natin ang ating paglaban! Panagutin ang rehimen!” dagdag n glider-magsasaka.

Si Ka Daning Ramos ng KMP (harap) at si Cathy Estavillo ng Bantay Bigas (likod) / Larawan ni N. Bacarra/Kodao

Tuluy-tuloy na pakikibaka

Umabot na ang pinsala ng El Niño sa agrikultura sa mahigit ₱1.2 bilyon ayon sa huling ulat nitong Abril 3 ng National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. Ang halagang ito ang tinatayang katumbas ng 44,845.42 metric tons na pinsala sa agrikultural na produkto. Umaabot sa 17 lugar sa bansa ang nakakaranas ng matinding kalamidad na sangkot ang 84,731 pamilya.

Kung itatapat ang halaga ng pinsala sa ayudang ipinangangalandakan ng DA, lalabas na kulang ito batay sa aktwal na tala ng mga pinsala sa mga prubinsyang malupit na tinamaan ng sakuna. Kung ang isang bag ay umaabot ng 50 kilo, aabot ng ₱93.75 milyon ang halaga ng naibenta ng NFA kamakailan lang. Kung kukwentahin din ang naibenta noong 2021 at 2022 na umaabot sa ₱12 bilyon, malaking bagay na sana itong pagkukunan ng ayuda at kumpensasyon sa mga magsasaka sa ngayon.

Subalit hindi ganito ang kalakaran ng “korupsyon at transaksyong sindikato sa gubyerno.” Ang pondong mula sa buwis ng mamamayang Pilipino ay pribadong inaangkin ng mga sangkot na tiwaling mga opisyal sa gubyerno.

May mandato dati ang NFA na bilhin ang mga aning palay ng magsasaka na mabuting bagay sana para sa mga magsasaka. Subalit nang maging batas ang R.A. 11203 o ang Rice Tariffication Law, naging inutil ang NFA dito at naging instrumento pang lalo sa katiwalian.

Ang mga pesanteng nagprotesta sa NFA. (Larawan ni N. Bacarra/Kodao)

Pinapatay na ang mga magsasaka ng kawalan at kakulangan ng lupang masasaka dahil ang mga nagsiupong rehimen mula noong panahon ng diktadura ay kundi man mga panginoong maylupa at mga kumprador na kasabwat ng mga imperyalistang dayuhan sa pagpapanatili ng pyudal at malapyudal na kaayusan sa bansa. Hanggang ngayon ay usapin sa mga magsasaka ang paggigiit ng pagkakaroon ng tunay na reporma sa lupa. Iniaasa sa ngayon sa importasyon ng mga pangunahing agrikultural na produkto na kayang likhain dito sa bansa.

Walang ibang aasahan ang pinakamalaking pwersa sa produksyon ng bansa at iba pang sektor ng lipunan kundi ang patuloy na ipaglaban ang paggigiit ng tunay na reporma sa lupa at pambansang industriyalisasyon. Nilalamon ang sistema ng mga imperyalistang imposisyon ng liberalisasyon, pribatisasyon, deregulasyon na lubos na ipinaghihirap ng mamamayang Pilipino at ikinayayaman naman ng papet na rehimen at mga kasabwat nila sa bansa.

Siklo ang daranasin nating natural na delubyo subalit permanente ang kahayukan sa kapangyarihan, katiwalian at kainutilan ng mga papet na rehimen. Kaya dapat tuluy-tuloy na kumiklos ang mga magsasaka at manggagawa at ang iba pang sektor para baguhin ang sistematikong pagsasamantala at pang-aaping ito sa mamamayang Pilipino. #

DAR recognizes Tinang farmers as legitimate agrarian reform beneficiaries anew

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The farmers of Tinang in Tarlac province declared partial victory in their struggle to be recognized as legitimate beneficiaries as the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) again declared their eligibility for installation last Wednesday.

The Malayang Kilusang Samahang Magsasaka ng Tinang (MAKISAMA-Tinang) announced they finallt received a document signed by DAR secretary Conrado Estrella III ordering the segregation of 62.4 hectare for distribution among beneficiaries, including members of their group.

Promised land under the government’s agrarian reform programs since 1995, the farmers have been continuously blocked from full ownership of the land by groups they describe as fake beneficiaries as well as the police, military and local politicians such as Concepcion town mayor Noel Villanueva.

While cultivating the contested land in July 2022, more than a hundred farmers and their supporters were mass arrested by the Concepcion police upon orders of Villanueva.

In the midst of continuing court battles as well as militarization of their communities, MAKISAMA-Tinang has compelled Estrella to review their right to installation as legitimate beneficiaries.

Estrella issued the document last Wednesday after a 45-day review of the farmers’ petition.

“We thank Sec. Estrella for upholding the status of MAKISAMA-Tinang’s members as legitimate farmer-beneficiaries who have suffered the injustice of landlessness long enough,” Unyon ng Manggagawa sa Agrikultura acting chairperson Ariel Casilao said in a statement.

 “We hope DAR expedites the segregation process so the ARBs can finally be installed on their land,” Casilao added.

Casilao also urged DAR to facilitate the dismissal of charges against 83 farmers and supporters hailed to court after their arrest and a stop to the ongoing harassments by the local police, the military and land-grabbers.

MAKISAMA-Tinang said they will plan to produce abundant, safe and nutritious food for their families and community.

They also dedicated their recent victory to their late chairperson Felino Cunanan who died of abdominal aortic aneurysm after suffering harassment from the military last November 6. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

Tinang farmers oppose new validation order

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Agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) of Hacienda Tinang in Concepcion, Tarlac trooped to the main office of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Quezon City on Monday morning to question a new directive labeling them as mere claimants.

Reacting to a new announcement by the Concepcion Municipal Agrarian Reform Office (MARO) last February 17 that the 237 farmers are “potential beneficiaries”, members of the Malayang Kilusang Samahang Magsasaka ng Tinang (MAKISAMA-Tinang) held a rally at the DAR, protesting another validation process being held today February 20 and on February 21 and 27.

The MARO made the announcement 10 days after Sec. Conrado Estrella III assured original ARBs, acknowledged and validated by DAR since 1996, would be installed within 45 days.

The Unyon ng Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA) in a statement said the MARO’s decision to subject the ARBs to another round of validation undermines Sec. Estrella’s authority.

“A re-validation process had taken place as recently as June 20 (2022), almost two weeks after the illegal mass arrest of the Tinang 83, underscoring that 178 of the original list of 236 ARBs should be installed on their land, and that the Certificate of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) they held remained legitimate,” UMA spokesperson John Milton Lozande said.

“Why was MARO obscuring the fact that Tinang’s ARBs were already CLOA-holders?” Lozande asked.

“Masyado nang matagal ang 27 taong ihinintay ng mga magsasaka ng Tinang. Mahigit 30 benepisaryo na ang namatay at hindi nasilayan ang napipintong tagumpay. Dinagdagan pa ni Sec. Estrella ng 45 araw ang kanilang paghihintay,” Lozande added.

(Twenty-seven years is too long for the Tinang farmers to be kept waiting. More than 30 of the original ARBs have died and have not yet seen their impending victory. Sec. Estrella has added 45 more days to their long wait.)

The farmers accused Concepcion Mayor Noel Villanueva as behind the latest round of delays in their installation to the land, expressing hope that the new validation process is not the local executive’s way of getting back at the ARBs whose complaint against the police who arrested them last July 26 was adjudged “sufficient in form and substance” by the Office of the Ombudsman.

Among the almost 30 police officers implicated was P/Lt. Col. Reynold Macabitas who had been seen receiving instructions from Villanueva on the day of the mass arrest.

The Hacienda Tinang struggle gained prominence when the police arrested more than 100 ARBS and their supporters while undertaking attempting to plant crops on the disputed property.

UMA expressed hope that MARO’s action was not petty retaliation from the landgrabbing mayor for the Office of the Ombudsman’s judgment that the Tinang 83’s complaint against Concepcion police, filed by the Tinang 83 on July 26, was “sufficient in form and substance.”

“Where are they getting the courage to counter DAR commitments and any semblance of logic and concern for the farmers? How close is Villanueva to the powers that be that he can spit at the face of justice?” Lozande asked in Filipino.

Meanwhile, acting UMA chairperson and former Anakpawis Representative Ariel Casilao to investigate the MARO decision seemingly contradicting Sec. Estrella’s promise to the farmers.

“We respectfully urge Sec. Estrella to clarify DAR’s position on the matter, fast-track the installation of Tinang ARBs on their 200-hectare land, and look into why MARO officials have been throwing farmers under the bus in favor of Villanueva,” Casilao said.

“Please don’t let unscrupulous officials break the hearts of our farmers all over again,” he added.

Both Casilao and Lozande said they hope the DAR would understand why MAKISAMA-Tinang would refuse participation in MARO’s re-validation activities.

“It would undo 27 years worth of struggle, and waste all the blood, sweat, and tears poured into the assertion of their rights over land withheld from them by the mayor,” they said. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

Tinang 83 files charges vs. ‘cruel and inhumane’ police

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Tinang 83 farmers and supporters filed six charges against the Concepcion (Tarlac) Philippine National Police (PNP) at the Office of the Ombudsman on Tuesday, July 26, in connection with their violent mass arrest last June 9.

The farmers and their supporters filed Violation of Rights of Persons Arrested, Detained, and Under Custodial Investigation; Perjury; Unlawful Arrest; Arbitrary Detention; Physical and Mental/Psychological Torture and Other Cruel, Inhumane, Degrading Treatment or Punishment; Grave and Serious Misconduct and Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service; and Grave Abuse of Authority and Oppression against the police.

At least 30 personnel of the Concepcion PNP, led by Lt. Col. Reynold Macabitas, were named respondents.

The complainants asked the Ombudsman to remove the policemen from service and issue a preventive suspension against them while the investigation is ongoing.

The charges the farmers filed is in response to what they say was very cruel treatment they suffered on their arrest, four-day imprisonment in crowded and humid jail cells and at the police head-quarter’s parking lot, and the seven of charges filed against them in quick succession by the police in collaboration with the Tarlac Provincial Prosecutors’ Office.

On July 7, several members of the Tinang 83 filed administrative complaints against Tarlac Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Mila Mae Montefalco before the Department of Justice for grave and serious misconduct, gross ignorance of the law and procedure, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

Tinang 83 members and lawyers trooped to the Office of the Ombudsman to file six complaints against the Concepcion PNP. (UMA photo)

 ‘Cruel’

The police charged the farmers and land rights advocates a total of seven criminal complaints after the arrests, including malicious mischief, illegal assembly, obstruction of justice, disobedience to authority, usurpation of real rights in property, human trafficking and child exploitation charges.

They were conducting a land cultivation activity when mass arrested by the police.

The Department of Agrarian Reform later released a list that named the farmers as legitimate beneficiaries of the property known as Hacienda Tinang.

The Capas Municipal Trial Court has dismissed the illegal assembly and malicious mischief charges against the farmers.

The Unyon ng Manggagawa sa Agrikultura said the counter charges against the police are “just, urgent, and true—the opposite of those filed by the police against the Tinang 83 upon being prodded by Mayor and land-grabber Noel Villanueva.”

Villanueva, then congressman and Concepcion mayor-elect, was present during the incident and was seen to have ordered the police to arrest the farmers and their supporters.

An Office of the Ombudsman personnel receives copies of the Tinang 83 complaints against the police. (UMA photo)

‘Well-deserved’

UMA chairperson John Milton ‘Ka Butch’ Lozande said in the statement that holding “Villanueva and his lackeys” accountable is timely and deserved.

Lozande said that government officials like Villanueva treat the police and the military like their private army, bending the law to serve their own profiteering interests.”

 “This is an important wake-up call to bureaucrats and the people at large, alerting them to that fact that CARP (comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program)has repeatedly failed farmers, and its failure has benefitted no one but land-grabbers,” Lozande said. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

Land rights champions face more charges from Tarlac prosecutors

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Government prosecutors are not letting up on Hacienda Tinang farmers and their supporters, charging them with another criminal complaint in Tarlac City on Wednesday.

While appearing at a preliminary investigation for human trafficking charges connected with their violent dispersal and arrest by the Concepcion, Tarlac police last June 9, government prosecutors bared that nine of the defendants are also facing child exploitation charges.

“In today’s preliminary investigation in Tarlac, we received a copy of the records of the new trumped up charge of child exploitation against the artists, journalist and peasant rights advocates who were illegally arrested, along with the agrarian reform beneficiaries of Hacienda Tinang during the conduct of their peaceful ceremonial bungkalan of the land that rightfully belongs to them,” their lawyer Kathy Panguban said.

The latest complaint apparently stems from reports that several minors were present during the arrest and were among those hauled to the Concepcion municipal police station on the day of the incident.

The minors, reportedly children of the supporters present that day, were released to relatives and guardians within hours of the mass arrest.

Nine of the 83 were charged with the latest criminal complaint.

The new charge brings to seven the total number of complaints filed against them by the Tarlac Provincial Prosecutor’s Office, including alleged malicious mischief, illegal assembly, obstruction of justice, disobedience to authority, usurpation of real rights in property and human trafficking.

The Capas (Tarlac) Municipal Trial Court has already dismissed the malicious mischief and illegal assembly charges against all of the 83 farmers and supporters arrested and jailed for four days.

The Department of Agrarian Reform has also finally released its list of legitimate Hacienda Tinang land beneficiaries, including all members of the members of Malayang Kilusan ng Samahang Magsasaka ng Tinang (Makisama-Tinang) arrested on June 9.

“It pains to see how the justice system is being weaponized against what is right and just for the farmers who had long been deprived of the enjoyment of their property. Even those who support their legitimate calls are now being dragged to answer such fabricated criminal charges,” Panguban said.

Fiscal asked to inhibit

The Unyon ng Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA) said in a separate statement that Wednesday’s preliminary investigation did not proceed pending the resolution of an earlier motion that the entire Tarlac Provincial Prosecutor’s Office inhibit itself from conducting the human trafficking compliant it filed against six of the defendants.

A similar motion was filed last July 8 by all of the 83 defendants pertaining to the conduct of the preliminary investigation into the charges of disobedience to authority, obstruction of justice, and usurpation of real rights in property.

The defendants also asked the courts for a transfer of venue of the investigations, expressing concern about the perceived influence Concepcion mayor Noel Villanueva over the proceedings.

Villanueva, then District Representative, was present during the arrest of the defendants and was recorded to have ordered the police to round up the farmers and their supporters who were having lunch at the time.

It was while waiting for the resolution of their motion to inhibit last Wednesday did Prosecutor Mila Mae Montefalco-Ikeshita bared the “never-before-seen official complaint” for the charge of child exploitation, UMA said in its statement.

The complaint had been filed by Concepcion police against nine peasant advocates, including the six facing accusations of human trafficking.

Five of those charged who agreed to be identified in this report are Donna Miranda, Angelo Suarez, Pia Montalban, Joyce Godoy, and Allan Bonifacio.

Farmers to file complaints themselves

UMA spokesperson John Milton Lozande that the string of charges against the farmers and their supporters is “plain and vulgar judicial harassment.”

“If anyone exploited any children in the case of the Tinang 83, it was the Concepcion police. It was they, after all, who violently accosted farmers and supporters in an illegal mass arrest in Tinang last June 9, stirring fear among minors present, then redtagged them to justify the round-up,” Lozande said.

Lozande also revealed that members of the Tinang 83 will themselves file administrative cases against the Concepcion police, particularly its officer-in-charge Lt. Col. Reynold Macabitas, at the Office of the Ombudsman in Quezon City on Monday, July 25.

Lozande’s group said their complaint will be the first in a series that the police may expect from them. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

DAR list affirms Tinang farmers are the real land owners—KMP

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The mass-arrested farmers at Hacienda Tinang in Concepcion, Tarlac on June 9 are the rightful owners of the property after all, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) announced.

The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has reaffirmed that all 94 members of local peasant group Makisama-Tinang are among the 178 beneficiaries of its revalidated list released on Monday, June 20, the KMP said in an announcement.

The announcement included photos of DAR banners announcing an “Initial List of Qualified Beneficiaries” the KMP said were displayed at Concepcion Municipal Hall, Tinang Barangay Hall and at the hut at the contested 200 hectare property.

“[The list] bolsters the rightful claim of the Tinang farmers to the plot they cultivated with supporters last June 9, cementing the utter baseless-ness of the charges filed against them,” the KMP said.

“At the same time, it further cripples the wobbly claims by land grabber and incoming Mayor Noel Villanueva, his puppet cooperative, and the police, of any offense from the part of the Tinang farmers and their supporters,” the group added.

The KMP said that the DAR’s announcement of its long-awaited list will pave the way for the Tinang farmer-beneficiaries installation “at the soonest possible time.”

The group however warned that Villanueva, incumbent Representative and incoming Concepcion mayor, is expected to continue opposing the move.

DAR employees displaying “Initial List of Qualified Beneficiaries” at Tinang Barangay Hall (top photo) and at the contested property (above). [KMP photo]

“(L)and grabber Noel Villanueva is expected to try and continue to deprive the Tinang farmers of their land, as their clan has done for decades. For this, we encourage everyone to stay vigilant,” the KMP said.

Many Makisama-Tinang members were violently arrested with their supporters last June 9 while having lunch and were charged with illegal assembly and malicious mischief by the Concepcion police.

The farmers said the police acted upon orders of Villanueva who they blame for their four-day ordeal that drew widespread condemnation nationwide.

At their arraignment last June 19 at the Capas Municipal Trial Court in connection with their mass arrest, the farmers and their supporters were informed that the additional charges of Disobedience, Obstruction of Justice and Usurpation of Real Rights were filed against them by the police.

They will be arraigned on the additional charges at the Tarlac Regional Trial Court on June 28. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

Farmers dismiss mega-farm proposal as not viable, urges lowering of prices of farm inputs instead

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A farmers’ group said the Department of Agrarian Reform’s (DAR) mega-farm project proposal is not viable without genuine land reform and subsidies for farmers, proposing the immediate lowering of prices of farm inputs instead.

The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) said DAR’s blueprint to try to bring down rice prices to P20 per kilo as “aspired for” by incoming President Ferdinand Marcos Jr is another form of lip service and empty promise to farmers in an obvious effort to pander to the incomingadministration.

“Truth be told, these DAR officials are only attempting to score brownie points from Bongbong Marcos Jr to retain their government posts,” KMP chairperson Danilo Ramos said.

Marcos said during the recent campaign period he wishes to see rice retail prices reduced to P20, a statement he later clarified was only an aspiration.

KMP however said the dream of a P20 per kilo of rice will not happen under the government’s existing land reform program that obligates beneficiaries to pay for land amortization.

The group instead renewed its call for the DAR to cancel land amortization, grant more subsidies to farmer and reduce production costs for rice to ultimately become more affordable.

“In fact, most ARBs in rice lands still have unpaid principal amortization and cannot pay for the 6% interest per annum imposed by the government under the bogus Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP),” Ramos revealed.

Obvious pandering

In a press conference Monday, DAR Secretary Bernie Cruz proposed to consolidate small and individual rice farms into mega-farms he dubbed as the “Programang Benteng Bigas sa Mamamayan” (PBBM, PHP20 Rice for the People Program).

PBBM is an obvious reference to an acronym Marcos supporters are already using to refer to the incoming president: President Bong Bong Marcos.

“The mega farm is a cluster of contiguous farms that are consolidated to form a sizable plantation capable of producing a large volume of farm products to meet the demands of consumers,” Cruz said.

The DAR said the PBBM may start with an initial 150,000 hectares that can produce an average of 142 cavans or sacks of rice per hectare per cropping season.

The agency said it will translate to a gain of PHP76,501 annually for agrarian reform beneficiaries, adding that if approved by the incoming Marcos government, it may lower the price of rice to PHP20 and liberate the agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARB) from subsistence farming.

The KMP however dismissed the proposal, proposing instead the following steps to bring down rice prices:

  1. Stop amortization payments and condone unpaid fees by ARBs;
  2. Give enough subsidies for rice production instead of loans; and
  3. Lower prices of very expensive farm inputs.

Expensive farm inputs

Photo by Jek Alcaraz/Kodao

Former DAR secretary Rafael Mariano said the government must work to bring down rice production costs to P6 to P8 per kilo from the current P12.

“DAR’s capitalist farm-model in a small, old-fashioned and archipelagic country will not work,” he added.

The former KMP chairperson said the constantly rising fuel prices add to increasing fertilizer prices, now at a “staggering” P2,800 to P3,000 per bag.

 “Expensive cost of production hurts farmers economically and pushes them deeper into debts. All farm inputs, not just fertilizer, are at a record high, or at least 12% across agricultural commodities. Industry experts forecast that fertilizer prices will remain high until petroleum prices drop,” the KMP said.

The group said the addressing the problem of expensive farm inputs is imperative and more viable than DAR’s proposal.

“President-elect Bongbong Marcos Jr should first agree and heed the broad people’s demand to suspend fuel excise taxes. Ito ang unang hakbang para kagyat na mapababa ang presyo ng langis at bilihin. Bawat OPH ay nakakaapekto sa presyo ng bigas, pagkain, bilihin at mga serbisyo,” Mariano said. (This is the first step in order to lower the prices of goods and services. Every oil price hike contributes to spikes in the prices of rice and other food items, other goods and services.)

Mariano added that DAR’s PBBM’ target of 142 cavans (7.1 metric tons) per hectare is also too good to be true and is even higher than Vietnam’s average 10-year yield per hectare average of 5.41 MT.

The Philippines’ current average yield is only 4.35 MT per hectare (87 cavans).

Mariano ppointed out that Vietnam, one of the world’s top rice-producing and exporting countries, allocates around 6% of its budget to agriculture, in contrast to the Philippines average of around 3%.

“Gusto natin ng mura at abot-kayang bigas para sa masa pero dapat gawin sa makatotohan at siyentipikong paraan at huwag daanin sa bolahan.” (We want rice that is cheaper and affordable for the people. But we want factual projections based on scientific data, instead of false promises.) # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

No justice, no genuine land reform 35 years after Mendiola Massacre—KMP

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Justice for the victims of the Mendiola Massacre and the struggle for genuine land reform they died for remain a rallying cry for farmers 35 years after the bloody incident, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) said.

The farmers’ group that led 20,000 farmers in a rally near Malacanang Palace on January 22, 1987 said the 13 victims who died in the bloody dispersal are yet to given justice, as is their group’s call for an end to tyranny and for genuine land reform.

“The peasant movement pays tribute to Danilo Arjona, Leopoldo Alonzo, Adelfa Aribe, Dionisio Bautista, Roberto Caylao, Vicente Campomanes, Ronilo Dumanico, Dante Evangelio, Angelito Gutierrez, Rodrigo Grampan, Bernabe Laquindanum, Sonny Boy Perez, and Roberto Yumul who were martyrs of the Mendiola Massacre,” the KMP said.

According to other accounts, 39 were also severely injured as a result of gunshot wounds.

KMP said the incident forced the Corazon Aquino government to pass the controversial Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law (CARL) to pacify farmers but the measure was still based on the flawed Ferdinand Marcos Presidential Decree 27.

Both Aquino’s CARL and Marcos’ PD27 wanted farmers to pay for the land supposedly awarded to them while landlords were generously compensated for land taken from their control.

The laws also allowed land conversions and the driving away of farmers from agricultural lands they already tilled.

The KMP has earlier repeatedly said that exemptions guaranteed CARL’s failure, including so-called stock distribution options that benefitted the Aquino-controlled Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac Province.

The law had been extended twice that allowed the 5 governments that succeeded Aquino to implement the government’s land reform program.

At least 75 percent of Filipino farmers still do not own land however.

KMP said the current Rodrigo Duterte government has in fact worsened land conversion and destroyed collective farming initiatives, giving way to stronger control by landlords and foreign agro-industrial industries of large portions of the country’s agriculture sector.

“The Duterte regime also favored over-importation of agricultural products such as rice, pork, fish and others” that drive farmers into bankruptcy and onerous debts, the KMP said.

Farmers and human rights groups also reported that 347 farmers, mostly members of peasant organizations and land rights activists, have been killed under the Duterte regime.

Genuine justice for the victims of the Mendiola Massacre will only be achieved with the implementation of a genuine land reform and the development of Filipino agriculture, the KMP said. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

Joseph Canlas in a coma; KMP blames neglect by jail authorities

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Detained Central Luzon-based peasant leader Joseph Canlas tested positive of the dreaded coronavirus disease and is now in a coma in a Pampanga hospital, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) said.

The farmers’ group said Canlas has low oxygen levels despite being intubated and connected to a mechanical ventilator since his transfer to the intensive care unit Sunday morning.

Canlas complained of difficulty in breathing and stuttering speech on Saturday, leading his family to suspect he both has Covid and has suffered a stroke.

The veteran land reform advocate, Alyansa ng Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luzon chairperson and KMP vice chairperson, was arrested in Mexico, Pampanga on March 30 on the standard charge of illegal possession of firearms and explosives by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) of the Philippine National Police.

Joseph Canlas after his arrest. (KMP photo)

KMP said Canlas was in stable physical condition before his arrest and detention but his health quickly deteriorated due to neglect by jail authorities as well as severe and miserable jail conditions.

“If jail authorities thoroughly checked Canlas’s health condition, they would have known that he has hypertension and diabetes which makes him more vulnerable to COVID infection,” KMP said.

“If he received proper medical attention while in detention, then the risks could have been lessened,” the group added.

KMP said Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Angeles District Warden Jail Supt. Rebecca Manalo-Tiguelo belittled Canlas’ initial complaints as well as those of other detainees.

“Last week, Canlas expressed that he was not feeling well but Manalo-Tiguelo simply dismissed Canlas’s ailment as ‘umaarte lang’ (just putting up an act),” KMP said.

The group also said Canlas and fellow detainees were refused Covid testing to determine if they were COVID positive.

“We highly suspect that Joseph Canlas got COVID infected while under quarantine inside BJMP jail facilities,” KMP said.

How he contracted Covid

In a statement, the KMP presented a timeline of Canlas’ health troubles:

March 30 – Canlas was illegally arrested in Barangay Sapang Maisac, Mexico, Pampanga. He was then brought to PNP Camp Olivas in San Fernando, Pampanga;

April 1 – He was transferred and put under quarantine at the CIDG Region 3. While quarantined, he was not allowed to receive visitors even from family members and counsel;

April 15 – After 14 days, he was transferred to the BJMP Detention Center in Angeles City after an X-ray examination. He was listed to be put under quarantine, as BJMP’s facility was full;

April 22 – He was put in BJMP’s quarantine facility, along with 100 or more detainees;

NNARA Youth UP Diliman photo

May 6 – After another 14 days, he was transferred to a regular jail, Selda 25;

May 7 – In a phone call with relatives, Canlas exhibited stuttering in speech. He also exhibited physical weakness and needed help in eating, walking, etc. By night time he had difficulties breathing;

May 8 – On Saturday evening, Canlas was rushed to a hospital in Angeles City due to a possible stroke and low oxygen level (74%, compared to the 95% and higher normal level);

May 9 – On early Sunday morning, he was transferred to an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) due to acute respiratory failure and COVID;

May 10 – He is already in a coma, and still has low oxygen levels despite being intubated and connected to a mechanical ventilator.

Human rights groups and activists conducted an online rally on Monday calling for Canlas’ immediate release.

“Ka Joseph does not even deserve a day in detention, yet he is now in a life-threatening situation due to grave government neglect and deprivation of necessary health and medical attention,” KMP said. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

Bishop grieves for slain Church and rights worker

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San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza expressed grief at the brutal murder of church worker and human rights defender Zara Alvarez in Bacolod City Monday night, August 17, calling the victim his “dear little child of struggle.”

“I bleed of this never-ending injustice and violence, someone closest in my work with the oppressed is murdered. I just cannot believe this continuing madness of senseless killings!” Alminaza said in a statement.

“These systemic killings of human rights defenders and activists must be condemned and must stop! Our responsible agencies must pursue justice and accountability on those responsible and should never allow impunity of criminals doing senseless executions of Filipinos!” the Bishop cried.

Alvarez, a victim of terrorist-tagging by the Rodrigo Duterte government, was shot to death while on her way home. She was 39 years old and survived by an 11-year old daughter.

Alminaza said the victim was tagged as a terrorist in a case filed before the Department of Justice in 2018. Her name was eventually deleted from the list but she continued to receive death threats from suspected state forces.

The prelate said the threats has resulted in Alvarez’s violent death “widely deemed as another case of extrajudicial killing, in pursuance of the state’s anti-terrorism campaign.”

“Zara is a human rights champion in the Negros island, an activist, organizer and ecumenical church worker. Her active involvement in the Church People -Workers Solidarity is worthy of emulation – always reminding us to be prophetic in our work of evangelization and social justice,” Alminaza described the victim.

A very personal tribute

In his statement, the Bishop recalled the victim’s “brave words” in an interview by UCANEWS in 2019, saying that because of her work of pursuing justice for the victims of human rights violations, “receiving death threats has already become one small part of [their] work…”

“Just last night, Zara Alvarez took the bullets from her assassin. Those who wanted to silence a woman of dedicated service for the poor, yes, they murdered her,” he said.

The Bishop further wrote:

“Zara, they imprisoned you of fabricated charges; yet, you were declared innocent by the court.

“Zara, they are afraid of you; though a petite woman yet capable of condemning injustice and ever-ready to organize farmers, peasants, workers, jeepney drivers and even church people.

“Zara, they took your life, believing that they can silence the cause you are fighting for… But no, Zara, your martyrdom in the cause for justice will inspire us to advance the cry for justice – the cry of the oppressed.

“Zara, you are a courageous witness in the cause for social justice.

“As you said: I cannot leave everything behind while everyone I know is being killed…’”

The Bishop, who last year ordered the nightly ringing of all church bells in his diocese and issuing an oratio imperata to call for an end to the killings of farmers and activists in Negros Island, also said he is grateful for having known the victim.

“I thank the Lord for knowing you, Zara, my dear little child of struggle. I promise to ever continue our work in the service of God’s poor. You inspired me in many ways to be a pastor of the anawim of God’s kingdom,” he said. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)